The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-01-06
EUGENE HALE's SPEECH
Accepting the denomination as
United States Senator.

AUGUSTA, Jan. 5.-The following is the
text of the speech made by Eugene Hale ia
accepting the denomination as United States
Senator:
M,: President and Gentlemen Of the Concen-
ton:
Every circumstance which surrounds this
great honor which you have bestowed upon
nae tonight renders that honor very flatter-
ing. may say that it comes without impor-
tunity or solicitation on my part 1t comes
from no dwindling party, Mr.. President. 1t
comes from no organization that broken,
beaten or discouraged, enters political
neld, but from an organization that since the
earliest days, when the Republican party
set its conquering foot upon the soil of
Maine, has never been stronger than it is to-
day. Many years ago, in the campaign that
was led in the Presidential battle by the
great Pathfinder, the Fremont campaign of
1856, the Republican party took permanent
possession Of the power and the administra-
ton OF the government of the State. 1t sent
TO the rear It's old antagonists and by an un-
precedented majority, unknown before, the
State was delivered into the hands of the
party that you and serve and have learned
10 respect and revere. But great as was the
success that year, Mr.. President, we
had no such majorities in the Legis-
lature as the people of this State
last asst. fan all gave 20 the Republican
show me what the Republican party is to-day
in the State of Maine. Out of one hundred
and eighty-two members of these two
branches the Republicans have 143, not
enough ON the other. side as my friends will
find here during this winter, to make a ses-
sion interesting by opposition. And SO |
say that this great honor which has been
bestowed upon me tonight is all the greater,
and all the more appreciated by me because
It comes from powerful, a living, and en-
IVof anf froaR, az
couraged or beaten or on the eve
of destruction. L have no words
that can fttingly measure the graft
tude that possesses me at this mani
feStatlon OF your confidence and approval
1t Is no light thing in these days or in other
days that any man should receive such a sup
port from his party for second term in that
great body, the United States Senate. | go
to the post that you and others will send me
to, feeling profoundly the Importance of the
trusteeship that you place in my hands.
What can be done faithfully by me shall be
done there. hope that some good will
come from it.. In cooperation with my dis
tlngulshed colleague, who is light and pow
er IN the United States Senate, and in coop
Grafton with the Maine delegation in the
House, than which there is none ADLER or
more respected or more felt in that hearty
cooperation with them which am sure that
desire, | hope that the State of Maine
may hold such standard as we have done
before.
Upon the things in which Maine is inter-
ested that |, with others, am to be called
upon to consider, | hope to represent the
people. Names interests, her laboring pop
ulation, the capital she has invested, the
thousand haunts and centres of her indus
tries that are making Maine great and
wealthy state, under the fostering care
and protection OF Congress In Maine and
elsewhere the people of the United States
require a good, sound enduring currency,
that If shall nof ha loNvarad nrx
upon that hope nag attitude will suit the
people of Maine and will be right Every
honest man has an interest in onr relations
not only at home but abroad. Down upon
the eastern coast especially we feel that a
great interest, that Of -Four fisheries, is one
that Congress should take in hand and pro-
tect and stand by, and, if our Canadian
neighbors are, as | fear bent upon proceed
ings that shall be even harsher than those
which made us indignant last year this gov
ernment will ebe found ready, not rashly,
and with precipitate retaliation, but with a
proper spirit to protect our citizens.
We are all interested here in what is es-
Sentially free government, the right of
every citizen to cast his ballot and to have it
fairly counted. We believe in that being a
rule that should apply to the North, South,
East and West, everywhere: Gentlemen,
promise you for one, and think | can prom
ise for the entire delegation from this State,
that they will never stay their hands upon
this subject until everything that can be
donein Congress shall be done to make this
really free republic. These, Mr.. President
and gentlemen, are some of the matters that
are laid upon the men who represent you at
Washington, and l feel their Importance.
feel that in representing the State of
Maine in the United States Senate, a great
responsibility is laid upon any man who is
elected to that place. ] want to say now as
close and in thanking every man here and
every man who has helped or contributed to
the result, that appreciate it all the more
because L believe it has been done heartily
that / understand how important is that
trust. and that all can say now in bidding
you good night is that in this place to which
expect to be called by the legislature in ac-
cordance with your determination will do
the best that in me lies,